waitt



(No Model.) 2 S l1eetsSheet 1.

G. L. WAITT.

TYPE WRITING MAGHINE.

No. 363,100. Patented May 17, 1887.

(Nd Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. L. WAITT.

TYPE WRITING MAGHINE. No. 363,100. Patented May 17, 1887.

fi 57 a 5 f x (N QWW' W% NITED PATENT rrrcn.

GEORGE L. \VAITT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE EDISON TYPE WRITER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

$PEC'IFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 363,100, dated May 17, 1887.

Application filed April 1, 1886. Serial No. 107,449. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. \VAITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of typewriting machines in which a revolving hub carrying radial flexible arms bearing type is employed for making the impressions by depressing the flexible arms as they reach the impression-point; and the object ofthe invent-ion is to provide an arrangement of devices for attaining simplicity of construction and ease of action, and rendering the operations of inking, printing, and feeding of the paper more perfect than heretofore.

To these ends the invention comprises the construction and disposition of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claims forming part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a type-writer embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. is a top view of one ofthe flexible printing-arms. Fig. 4is a perspective view of the same. Fig.5 is asection of the inking-pad. Fig. 6 is an end view of the paper-holder and feed device.

The reference-mnneral l designates a board or platform, upon which the operative parts and the devices for supporting the same are mounted. An arm, 2, made of metal, in the form of a single casting, is provided at its outer end with lateral cars 2, having lugs or pins 2" formed on their under sides. These lugs enter sockets made in the board 1, and serve, in connection with anordinary woodscrew, 3, passed through a hole in the outer end of the arm 2, to hold the latter firmly upon the board 1.. Only the outer portion of the arm 2 rests directly upon the board, and a space exists between said board and the under surface of the arm at all other points. The inner portion of the arm 2, or that end thereof adjoining the impression and paperfeeding devices, is made considerably wider than the remainder thereof, and at the end of this widened portion of the arm 2 is formed an upright flange, 4, which follows the contour of the frontof the widened portion ofthe arm 2.

As seen in the drawings, the flange 4 is in the form of a segment of a circle, and it eX- tends entirely across the front of the arm 2. A portion of one side of the flange 4 is cut out, so as to leave an opening, and in front of the latter the arm 2 forms a small platform, upon which rests an inking-pad, 7. This pad consists of a sheet-metal shell, 7, of a circular or other desired shape, formed with a central tube, 7", capable of being fitted on a pivot, 8, rising from the platform 6. Amass of gelatinous matter, 50, incorporated with a suitable ink, is placed in the shell 7, and a piece of ordinary fabric or typeribbon material, 9, is placed on the gelatinous matter and ink, and held firmly-in position by clamping its edge between a hoop, 7, and the ringshaped flange of the shell 7 and. seen ring its middle portion by means of a collar or eyelet, 7 slipped down upon the tube 7".

By clamping the edge and middle of the fabric by means of the outer hoop and central collar, I produce an arched or curved surface of the ink-distributing portion of the pad, which is highly conducive to a perfect inking of the type. Furthermore, apad thus made is very simple and durable, and the fabric is not liable to be torn by the type, and the pad can be easily replenished with ink.

Upon the central portion of the arm 2 is formed a circular flange, 10, surrounding or forming a cup-shaped recess, 11, from the center of which rises a vertical spindle or journal arm, 12, for a revolving printing-wheel, constructed as follows, viz: A shell-shaped body, 13, has a solid top portion, 13, in which is made a seat capable of receiving a centraltube, 14, the latter being secured in place by soldering or otherwise. The base of the shell 13 is turned in an inward and downward direetion, so as to form the horizontal and vertical flanges 13 and 13, for the object herein- 16. These arms are secured to the sectional hub by causing the shell 13, or, more precisely speaking, the horizontal and vertical flanges 13 and 13, to clamp the inner ends of the arms between the radial ribs on the plate 15.

In order to make a perfect and tight fit, notwithstanding any slight inequalities in thesize of the flexible arms, I apply an elastic packing-ring, 17, 'to the surface of the arms upon WhlCh the horizontal flange 13 bears, it being I understood that the ends of said arms abut against the shoulder formed by the flange 13". The central tube, 14, depending from the shell or body 13, passes through an opening in the center of the plate 15, and its lower end is formed with an external screw-thread, 14', which receives a nut, 19, for firmly uniting the parts constituting the body of the hub, from which the flexible printing-arms radiate. The nut 19 is inclosed in a chamber formed by the recess 11 in the arm 2 and a similar recess, 17, made in theunder side of the plate 15,and hence it is evident that the bottom plate, 15, is supported directly upon the circular flange 10 of the arm 2 and can turn freely upon the spindle or journal 12. 4

By constructing the hub of the type arms in the described manner I secure great simplicity and strength, and am enabled to quickly re place bent or broken arms with new ones by simply loosening the nut'19 and slipping a new arm into its seat after the old one has been removed.

The t-ypebearing arms employed by me are each formed of a strip of flexible plate metal,

1 which is cut out by dies, so as to form a blank capable of being shaped into a type-bearing head and finger piece. As seen in Figs. 3 and at, the blank from which the arm is made has a broadened portion forming a button or finger-pieee,- 16, and beyond thisthe blank is again narrowed and provided with side wings, 16?. The narrowed portion of the blank is doubled upon itself to form an extension, 16, of the finger-piece, and is then turned in a downward direction, thcn' horizontally, and again vertically to cause the end of the blank to touch the finger-piece, to which it is secured by soldering or otherwise. The wings 16 are bent at right'angles to the horizontally-turned portion of the blank, a sufficient angle being given to the bend to form a seat or recess capable of receiving a type, 20, and firmly hold the latter .in position without the aid of other fasteningdevices.

It should be observed that the wings 16 and the horizontal portion of the bent blank form a dovetail groove, into which the type-body is slipped from the side, so that it can be readily inserted and removed. The blank shaped and bent as shown by me will permit the type-arm to be made with ease and dispatch, and allow the type-bearing head to constitute an integral portion of the flexible portion of the arm. The segmental flange projecting upwardly from the front or widened portion of the arm 2 has a notch, 25, cut in its upper edge at a point exactly in line with the axis upon which the type-wheel turns. This notch receives the arm which is being depressed for making an impression, and inorder to permit a clear and perfect imprint to be made by the type borne by the head on said arm I forma projecting abutment, 26, on the front of the flange. This abutment is in line with the notch in the flange, and is otherwise so located that when a typearm is depressed the head portion thereof will move downwardly in close contact with said abutment, and thus there will be no irregularity in printing, as the type-head is not allowed to turn or curve in, butmust move in a' direct vertical line to avoid a blurred imprint. The segmental flange is inclined or madcslanting at the side or end first approached by the flexible arms, so as tocause the latter to glide upon the flangewithout impediment as the type-wheel is being rotated during the operation of printing. A stop or lug, 80, projects above the notch 25 in the segmental flange, and serves as a stop to prevent the arm which is to be depressed from passing the notch in which it is to be entered for making an impression. The upper edge of the segmental flange is made straight, except at the approach side of the flexible arms, and the height of the flange is suchthat the arm which is selected to make an imprint glides upon the segmental flange, and in doing so the type carried thereby sweeps over the inking-pad and takes up sufficient ink to give a clear impression.

It is of course obvious that in order to pro- IIO duce the best results the various type should 7 not take up too much ink, and hence I prefer that the type selected for printing should only be inked as it is to be used,and by holding its carrying-arm upon the segmental flange, as the wheel is rotated a sufficient amount of ink is applied to the type to make the impression when the arm reaches the notch in the flange and is depressed in the manner already stated. When the ink used is of the proper strength the various type onthe printing-wheel may be inked at the same time for giving up the ink, without the necessity of inking the type before each impression. This method ofinking is, however, not as desirable as that first described. It is obvious that since theink-pad is merely slipped on a journal or studupon which it rotates it can be easily applied and removed, and hence pads with various colored inks can be interchangeably used.

A rotary pad is very desirable, because it can be turned to bring different portions of the surface under the type and cause a uniform wear of the pad or consumption of the ink.

The means for feeding the paper to give the proper intervals between the lines and the letters, or printed matter of each line, may be described as follows, viz: A metal strip, 30, made as wide or nearly as wide as the board 1, upon which the printing devices are mounted, is provided with pendent inclined flanges 31, of the same length as said strip, and these flanges fit into undercut or slanting grooves 15, made in the board 1, and are capable of sliding therein. At the side of the strip facing the printing devices is seen red or formed a ratchet-surface, 32, and a slot, 33, is left between the strip 30 and said ratehet-surface. The strip 30 has vertical ears 35, which eonstitute the beari ngs for a transverse paper-feed ing roller, 38. One of these cars has merely a Vertical slot, 35", for receiving a gudgeon or end journal on the roller 38, and the otherear possesses, in addition to the vertical slot, a horizontal notch, 35", for entering a reduced rounded portion ofthe' roller 38 into the notch and slot connecting therewith. 7 Springtongues 37 are soldered or otherwise secured to the top of the strip 30, at points outside the slotted ears. The object of these spring tongues is to bear upon the roller 38 and hold the same in position, it being the intention to fit the projeetingjournal at one end of the roller under oneof these spring-tongues, while an angular termination, 39, at the other end of the roller fits under the second one of these spring-tongues.

The roller 38 consists of a metal shaft covered with elastic or india-rubber sleeves 40, which may cover only the portions of the metal shaft or core adjoining the bearings, or else a continuous sleeve may be applied to the metal core for forming an elastic roller of the same width as the paper to be fed forward. The angular end portion, 39, of the roller is in the present instance made triangular in cross-section, and hence it is evident that it can be securely grasped for turning the feed-roller. It is to be observed that this angular end of the roller bears such a relation to the roller that each side corresponds to the space of oneline, so that by turning the roller and using care that either of the three" sides formed by the angles is exactly horizontal uniform distances between the lines can be preserved.

In practice the sheet of paper to be imprinted is slipped between the feed-roller and passed through the slot formed above the bottom strip and racksurface, and the various parts having been properly adjusted with the paper-holding devices at the right of the board 1, the printing operation takes place in the following way, viz: The type-arm selected for making an impression is carried over the segmental flange and entered into the notch made therein, and by exerting sufficient pressure the type on the end of the arm is caused to make an impression on the paper beneath.

The next arm coming into position for print ing will cause a feed-motion from right to left the distance of one letter, this feeding being performed by means of a link-shaped pawl, 49, carried on the end of an upwardly-projecting inclined spring-tongue, 41, projecting from the under side ofthe platform-extension of the arm 2. This spring-tongue has an eye, 42, which receives the link or pawl 49, so that the latter can swing orturn thereon, for the object hereinafter stated. When a flexible type-bearing arm is entered into thenoteh in the segmental flange it will come in contact with the upper end of the spring-tongue ll, and a continued downward pressure upon the flexible arm will depress the spring and bring the link or ratchet into a horizontal position in firm engagement with one of the ratchetteeth of the sliding strip, and concurrently with such operation the impression of the type upon the paper is made. hen the spring is released by letting go the printing-arm, the link-shaped pawl slips forward to the next tooth in the ratchetstrip, consequently bringing the paper into the next position the distance of one letter. When the end of the line is reached the ratchet-strip and attached devices are slipped again from left to right, and since the pawl is pivoted to the spring-tongue this can be done without swinging the pawl inward by hand, so that it can glide over the ratchet-teeth. In other words, the act of slipping the ratchetstrip into its normal position ready for the commencement of the next line reverses the position of the pawl and permits it to glide over the teeth. The paper is then fed forward ready for printing the next line by simply seizing the angular end of the roller-shaft and turning it so as to bring one of the plane surfaces uppermost.

It is obvious that the paper as it is fed for ward line by line passes into the space left between the arm 2 and the board 1. In order to steady the movement of the ratchetstrip during its step-bystep motion, I attach to the under side of the arm 2 a spring-tongue, 42, which has an enlarged end, 43, bearing upon the ratchet teeth. The pressure of this spring device is sufficient to hold the ratchet down into its guide groove or grooves and prevent it from turning.

In order to insure a firm holding of the pa per while the impression is being made and cause the formation of straight lines, I provide lugs or presscr-feet on the under side of the arm 2, carrying the printing devices. It is obvious that when said arm is slightly depressed by the downward movement of the printingarm the lugs or feet 45 come in contact with the paper and press it upon the board. In order to prevent the springarms from being bent out of shape, I provide a guard-rail, 47, which is secured or formed on vertical arms IS, extending from the hub 13. The rail is disposed above the spring-arms and limits the upward movement thereof, as will readily be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writer, the combination of the body or shell having a central tube secured thereto, and provided with horizontal and verti'eal bottom flanges, the plate having radial ribs and a central opening, the flexible printing-arms, and a nut for clamping the parts together with a supporting-arm having a journal, substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a type-writer, a revolving printing- Wheel consisting of a hub or body having radial arms bearing type, said arms consisting each of a flexible metal strip bent at its ends to form a type-head with a dovetail type-seat or holdinggroove, substantially as herein set held tightly stretched by the outer removable hoop and inner collar, substantially as set forth.

4. In a type-writer, the combination of the supporting-arm, the segmental flange thereon, having a front abutment, and notch above the latter with the revolving printing-wheel having flexible type-arms, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a type-writer, the combination of the supporting-arm, the inclined spring-arm so:

cured thereto and having an eye, and the linkshaped reversible pawl pivoted in said eye, with the revolving type-wheel having deprcssiblc arms and the paper-feeding device having a ratchet-surface engaged by the pivoted pawl, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L, VVAIT'I.

\Vitnesses:

FRANCES THOERNER, AUG. M. TANNER. 

